A new good day.

Eri, a young woman with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes that's often overshadowed by loneliness, sat at the worn wooden table of her dingy, dimly lit apartment. The faded wallpaper peeled at the edges, and the creaking floor told the story of years of neglect. Her dining room was squashed into the same room as her living room due to the tight space, a constant reminder of her limited means. A clock on the wall ticked away, each second a weight on her heart, as she sighed and glanced at her phone, 10:08 PM.

She had printed out high-quality invitations that morning, a labor of love, and slid them into the lockers of everyone in her class. Each word chosen carefully, each color and font painstakingly selected. She had spent hours, hoping to make a connection, wanting to be noticed. Today was her birthday, a day that should have been filled with joy, but she found herself alone. Tears welled in her eyes as she forced a faltering smile.

Eri's eyes widened in surprise at Gill's unexpected arrival. She blinked a few times, trying to digest what he said about the alcohol. Slowly, she licked her lips, eyes flickering to the bottle in his hand. Feeling suddenly self-conscious, she rubbed her arm with her free hand, unsure of how to respond. After a moment of awkward silence, she managed to whisper a small "thank you."

"She felt a heavy lump in her chest, the alcohol seeming to drown out most of the excitement she had felt at seeing another person, and now sullied by this illicit component. She wondered if getting drunk might make her more confident and attractive- maybe someone else might show up. She also wondered if it might leave her vulnerable to more harm."

Eri's heart sank at Gill's words. She had hoped, against all odds, that someone else might show up, but it seemed that Gill was the only one who had taken the time to come to her birthday. A wave of loneliness washed over her, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

"Yeah," Eri murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It is strange."

"She couldn't bring herself to look at Gill directly, her gaze instead falling to the floor. She felt like a failure, like she wasn't good enough for anyone to want to spend time with her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, determined not to let Gill see her cry."

Eri forced a small smile at Gill's words, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. She nodded, taking the bottle of alcohol from him and motioning towards her living room.

"Thanks," she said softly, leading the way. "Let's go sit down."

"As Eri led the way to the living room, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Part of her was relieved that Gill had shown up, even if no one else had, but another part of her felt vulnerable and afraid. She had never been alone with a boy before, and with the addition of the alcohol, she wasn't sure what might happen."

Eri perched herself on the edge of her seat, feeling slightly more at ease with Gill's question. She took a deep breath before responding.

"Well, I don't really know what to say," she began. "I don't have much to celebrate, I guess. I just wanted to feel...like someone cared, you know? It's hard being alone all the time."

"Eri paused, feeling like she might have overshared. She worried that Gill might think she was weird or clingy for wanting someone - anyone - to come to her birthday party."

Eri swallowed hard, holding back tears as Gill spoke. What he said made a kind of sense to her, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She shrugged and looked away, trying to mask her emotions.

"I guess you're right," she mumbled. "I've never really been to a party before, so I don't know how it's supposed to feel."

"Eri wrapped her arms around her torso, fidgeting with her fingers. She felt like she was failing somehow - like she wasn't living up to some norm or expectation that she didn't even fully understand. It was frustrating, to say the least."

Eri hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. She had never had the experience of receiving a hug before, so she wasn't quite sure how to respond. But something in Gill's kind words and inviting gesture pulled at her heartstrings, and after a moment, she cautiously leaned forward into his embrace.

"Eri felt a jolt of nervous energy as Gill's arms wrapped around her. She could feel his warmth and the beating of his heart against her chest, and it made her feel both alive and a little scared. She wondered if she was doing something wrong by hugging him, but at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to pull away."

Eri nodded, her head still buried in Gill's shoulder. She felt a complex tangle of emotions surging within her - gratitude, relief, happiness, and a touch of fear. She wasn't used to being this close to someone, but at the same time, she found herself unwilling to let go.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I did."

"As she lay there in Gill's arms, Eri felt a sense of comfort and safety that she had never experienced before. It was a feeling that she wanted to hold onto forever, to somehow bottle up and take with her wherever she went. But she knew that it wouldn't last forever, that eventually, they would have to pull apart and return to the reality of the world around them."

Eri pulled away from Gill's embrace, feeling a strange mix of disappointment and relief. As much as she had enjoyed the warmth of his arms around her, she knew that it couldn't last forever.

"Um, sure," she said, glancing up at him. "What kind of movie do you want to watch?"

"Eri felt a little nervous about the idea of watching a movie with Gill, but at the same time, she knew that she didn't have anything better to do. She was grateful for his company, even if it was just for a little while longer."

Eri bit her lip, trying to think of a movie that might be good to watch. She wasn't really sure what kind of movies Gill liked, but she knew that she had a soft spot for romantic comedies.

"Well, there's this one rom-com that I've been wanting to watch for a while now," she said, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's called 'Serendipity'. Is that okay?"

"Eri's cheeks tinted pink as she waited for Gill's response. She wasn't sure if he would think that the movie was silly or old-fashioned, but at the same time, she didn't want to pick something that might make him uncomfortable."

Eri nodded and quickly got up from her seat. She walked over to her TV and slid the DVD into the player, then grabbed the remote. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before turning back to Gill.

"Okay, it's all set," she said, feeling a little nervous. "Do you want to sit on the couch or...somewhere else?"

"Eri's eyes met Gill's, feeling a sudden flutter in her stomach. She wasn't entirely sure what to do with herself, but she knew that she wanted to enjoy this moment with him."

"Alright," Eri said with a small smile, gesturing to the armchair in the corner of the room. "You can sit there."

She curled up on the couch, pulling a blanket over herself and hitting play on the DVD player. The movie began, and for a little while, they watched in silence.

"Eri watched the movie avidly, getting lost in the romance and the story. She couldn't help but feel a little wistful as she watched the characters on screen, their love blooming in front of her eyes. It made her feel a little envious, but at the same time, she was grateful for the chance to enjoy this moment with Gill."

Eri looked at the clock on her wall and saw that it was now past midnight.

"It's after midnight now," she said, looking over at Gill. "Are you getting tired? You can go home if you want to."

"Eri felt her heart sink at the thought of Gill leaving, but at the same time, she knew that she didn't want to keep him up if he was tired. She just hoped that they could spend a little more time together before he went."

Eri's heart leapt in her chest at the thought of Gill staying over. She felt a warm flutter deep within her, but at the same time, she wasn't entirely sure if it was appropriate.

"Um, sure," she said, her voice a little unsteady. "You can take the couch if you want. Or...I mean, if you're comfortable with it, you can share my bed."

"Eri found herself holding her breath as she waited for Gill's response, hoping against hope that he might say yes."

Eri bit her lip, trying to hide the flutter in her chest. She didn't want to seem too eager, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a swell of hope.

"Well, it's up to you," she said, her voice a little soft. "I don't mind either way. But...if you're sure that you're comfortable with it, then you can share my bed."

"Eri felt her cheeks flush as she spoke, wondering if she was being too forward. But at the same time, she couldn't help but take the chance and hope that maybe something might happen between them tonight."

Eri's heart pounded in her chest as Gill followed her up the stairs to her bedroom. She tried to keep her breathing steady, but her body was buzzing with excitement and nerves.

She opened the door and stepped inside, holding it open for Gill. The room was small and cozy, with a soft pink glow from the lamp on her bedside table.

"You can sleep on the left," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she gestured to the bed. "I'll sleep on the right."

"Eri couldn't believe that this was actually happening. She was sharing her bed with Gill, the boy she had been crushing on for so long. Her heart was racing, but at the same time, she felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over her."

Eri walked over to the bed, sitting down beside Gill. Her heart raced in her chest as she looked at him, wondering what he was thinking.

"I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself," she said softly, her voice a little unsteady. "As for tonight...I think it's been amazing. I didn't expect anyone to show up for my birthday, let alone get to spend the night with someone like you."

"Eri turned to face Gill, her eyes searching his face. She could feel herself leaning in towards him, wanting to be closer, but at the same time, she was afraid of what might happen."

Eri looked at Gill with a small smirk, feeling a kinship with him that she hadn't felt before. She knew how it felt to be alone on her birthday, and she couldn't help but feel a little touched that he had shared his own experience with her.

"Well, at least now we have each other to celebrate with," she said, her voice softening. "And who knows? Maybe next year, we won't have to spend our birthdays alone."

"Eri felt a sense of hope wash over her as she spoke, a feeling that maybe, just maybe, this night could be the start of something more."

Eri smiled and let out a soft giggle in response to Gill's comment. She couldn't believe the turn that the night had taken, but she couldn't deny how happy it was making her.

"I would like that," she replied softly, looking at Gill with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "It would be nice to spend time with someone like you again."

"Eri reached out and took Gill's hand in hers, feeling a jolt of electricity run through her as their skin touched."

Eri's heart skipped a beat at Gill's suggestion, and she couldn't help but smile. She had never expected that her lonely birthday would end with a potential new friend in her life.

"I would like that," she said softly, her voice a little unsteady. "I would like that very much."

"Eri felt herself blushing slightly as she noticed Gill's gaze on her, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and hope wash over her."

Eri's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for Gill to ask his question, her mind racing with possibilities. She couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and hope, wondering what he could possibly ask her.

"What is it?" she asked softly, her voice a little unsteady.

"Eri looked up at Gill, her eyes searching his face, wanting to know what he was thinking. She could feel herself leaning in towards him, wanting to be closer, wanting to know more."

Eri's smile faded slightly as Gill asked about her parents, feeling a pang of sadness deep in her chest. She looked away from him for a moment, staring at her hands folded in her lap.

"They're...they're not around," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just me."

"Eri felt a lump forming in her throat as she spoke, the loneliness and isolation that had been a constant in her life threatening to overwhelm her."

Eri hesitated for a moment, unsure how much she wanted to reveal to Gill. She had always been guarded about her past, afraid of judgment or pity, but something in his gentle gaze made her want to open up.

"They...died," she said softly, her voice shaking slightly. "A long time ago. I've been on my own ever since."

"Eri felt a sense of sadness and regret wash over her as she spoke, the memories of her parents cutting deep into her heart. But she also felt a strange sense of liberation, knowing that she could finally share this part of her with someone else."

Eri looked down at her lap, feeling a little ashamed to admit the truth. She had always prided herself on being self-sufficient, but the reality was that she struggled every day just to get by.

"I take care of myself," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have a job, and I go to school...but...it's hard."

"Eri felt her eyes filling with tears as she spoke, feeling more vulnerable and exposed than she had in a long time. She knew that Gill would never judge her, but it still hurt to admit how alone she truly was."

Eri's eyes widened in surprise at Gill's proposal, feeling a sense of shock and disbelief wash over her. She had never expected anyone to offer her such kindness, and she didn't quite know how to respond.

"I...I don't know what to say," she said softly, feeling tears filling her eyes. "It's...it's an amazing offer, but I don't want to be a burden on you."

"Eri felt a mix of gratitude and fear at the thought of living with Gill, not sure if it was the right decision for her. But she couldn't deny the fact that it was a tempting prospect, a chance to finally have someone by her side."

Eri couldn't help but laugh at Gill's joking suggestion, feeling a sense of warmth and affection towards him. She was still a little wary of the idea of living with someone else, but the thought of being a part of Gill's family was definitely tempting.

"That's very sweet of you," she said softly, her heart full of gratitude. "I...I don't know what to say."

"Eri felt a sense of confusion and uncertainty swirling inside of her, unsure what the right decision was. But she also knew that she couldn't pass up such a generous offer, and she felt a sense of hope stirring within her."

Eri's heart swelled with gratitude as Gill reassured her that she didn't have to make a decision right away, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that the idea of living with someone else was a big decision, and she needed time to think it over.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "I really appreciate it."

"Eri felt a sense of peace and hope settling over her, knowing that she had a new friend who cared for her wellbeing. She knew that she still had a lot to figure out, but she felt more confident and optimistic about the future."

Eri felt a warmth spread through her as Gill spoke about wanting a brother but having her as a sister instead. She had always longed to have siblings herself, and the idea of having a family again was too tempting to resist.

"I've always wanted a sibling too," she said softly, smiling at Gill. "It would be nice to have someone to share things with, to...to be a part of something."

"Eri felt a sense of longing and nostalgia washing over her as she spoke, thinking back to happier times with her parents. But she also felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future, knowing that she had someone like Gill in her life now."

Eri watched in surprise as Gill gently laid down on her bed, his eyes already heavy with exhaustion. She had never had anyone offer to share her bed with her before, and she felt a mixture of warmth and nervousness as she realized what was happening.

"Um...yeah, I think it's..." she trailed off, not sure how to finish her sentence. "I mean, thank you."

"Eri felt a fluttering in her chest as she curled up next to Gill, feeling more vulnerable than she had in a long time. But she also felt a sense of security and comfort, knowing that she had someone there to keep her safe."

Eri felt her own eyelids grow heavy as she heard Gill's yawn, realizing that the long day must have finally caught up with him. She was also feeling tired herself, but the warmth of Gill's body next to hers made it hard to think about sleep.

"I'm feeling a little sleepy too," she said softly, smiling up at Gill. "Thank you for being here with me, it means a lot."

"Eri closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh as she snuggled closer to Gill, feeling herself drift off to sleep. She knew that tomorrow would be a new day, full of challenges and possibilities, but for now, she was content just to be in the moment with someone who cared."